Door locking mechanism



July 11, 1939. A. F. PRUNER 2,165,577

DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM Filed March '7, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 may INVENTOR- A TTORNEYS.

y 11, 1939- A. F. PRUNER DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM s Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Mairch 7, 1936 Patented July 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims,

My invention relates to locking mechanisms for automobile doors and the like and more particularly to such mechanisms which lock by a change in position of the outside knob or handle, and without the use of a key.

Locking mechanisms in use today have several disadvantages. They make it necessary for the operator to use a key to lock his car from the outside; the car handle protrudes from the side of the car allowing a hand hold for hi-jackers; it is necessary to look all save one of the car doors from the inside and many times this is overlooked, necessitating re-opening of the doors; and the protrusion of the handles from the sides of lothe car add wind resistance and detract from the desired streamline effect.

It is the purposeof my invention to overcome all of the above mentioned disadvantages, making it unnecessary to lock any of the doors from the 26 inside, or to use a key to lock the doors from the outside. My mechanism is so constructed that the outside door handles of all doors recede into an inaccessible position inside the door when the car is locked, the outer surface of the handle being flush with the exterior surface of the door, allowing no hand hold for hi-jackers and greatly adding to the streamline design of the car.

I consider the device new, novel, practical, and of utility.

d With these and other objects in view as will combination of parts hereinaftermore fully described, pointed out inthe claims hereto append- 36 ed; and illustrated in thje 'accompanying'threesheet drawing, of which, I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a car door with my device installed showing the normal position of the outside door handle when the door is not locked;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the relative position of the handle when the car door is locked;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a a car door taken from theinside of the car, showing the normal position of the inside door handle and its range of movement for opening or looking the door from the inside;

Figure 4 is a perspective View of a partv of the mechanism which locks the outer door handle Figure 6 is a side elevation of the part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4;

Figure 7 is a plan elevation of the portions of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the latch assembly with the power transmitting tube in operative relation thereto;

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the latch assembly with the small plate and power transmitting tube removed; and, w.

Figure 10 is a plan elevation of the latch assembly and power transmitting tube taken from the bottom looking upward.

For ease in description the mechanism shown in all figures except Figures 1 and 3 is applicable 15..

to a right hand car door which opens at its forward edge, or to a left hand car door which opens at its rear edge.

Like characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures.

departing from the spirit or broad principle of my invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof; and it is also understood that the drawings are to be interpreted as being illustrative and not restrictive.

The inventive ideainvolvedis capable ofre--' ceiving a variety of mechanical expressions one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Referring more particularly to Figs. 4, 5, 6, and

door handle crank 3 is rotatably mounted on the 40,

outer surface of the plate I and is slidable vertically adjacent thereto, its upper end being journaled in a'lug 4 stamped out of the plate I, and its lower end being journaled in a journal box 5. This box 5 slides in a slot 6 in the plate l. The edges of slot 6 fit in lengthwise guide grooves in the-box 5, one-portion of the box being on the outer surface of-'the'plate I, as shown in Fig, 5, and another portion of the box on the inner surface of the plate I, as in Fig. 4.--' A horizontal slot! is provided in the box 5 to allow movement of a pin 8 carried by the crank 3. The pin 8 hitting the sides of the slot 1 limits the rotation of the crank 3 in either direction. "The offset portion 9 of the crank 3 is held normally v adjacent the plate I by a coiled spring Ill, one end of which bears on a pin II carried by the box 5 and the other end of which fits through a perforation in the lower end of the crank 3.

A bolt trigger I2 is slidably mounted on the plate I through a. slot I3 in the plate, and is adapted to be moved by the offset portion 9 of the crank 3 as it rotates. A slide plate I4 (Fig. 4) located on the opposite side of the plate I is riveted securely to the trigger I2 and slides through a slot I5 in a bracket I6 riveted on the inner surface of the plate I. One end of a looking link I! (Figs. 4 and 6) is pivotally mounted on the plate I by a bushing rivet I8. Its other end pivotally connects to one end of a'connector link I9 whose other end is pivotally mounted on the box 5 by a bushing screw 28. The link I! carries a lug 2I, to which one end of a spring 22 is attached, the other end of the spring being anchored to a lug 23 made integral with the bracket I6. One end of a lock member 24 is pivotally mounted on the inner surface of the plate I and its movement in either direction is controlled by an ordinary tumbler lock mechanism (not shown). The member 24 normally remains in the .position shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Its outer edge contacts a lug 25 integral with the bracket I6, and this lug prevents its rotation in one direction. It can only be rotated partially in the opposite direction by insertion of a key (not shown) in the tumbler look. When being rotated in this direction by a turn of the key its outer end contacts either link I! or link I9.

A door handle 26 (Figs. 1 and 2) is adapted to be attached to the upper end of crank 3, which extends upward through a handle recess 21 in the door. It will be seen, from the description thus far, that if the door handle 26 while in its operative position as shown-in Fig. 1 is pushed downward into its recess, the crank'3 in sliding downward with the handle 26 moves the journal box 5 downward in its slot 6, and the links I! and I9 move from their position shown in Fig. 4 to a vertically aligned position shown in Fig. 6 by the center line X-X (Fig. 6). When the links H and I9 reach this point the spring 22 pulls them into the position shown in Fig. 6, at which point their movement is limited by contact with the lock member'24, which in turn is prevented from movement 'both by the tumbler lock mechanism and by the lug 25. The links H and I9 are held in this position by the spring 22 and a. spring 28, one end of which bears upward on the bottom of the journal box 5. With the links I! and I9 held in this position it will be seen that the upper surface of the handle 26 would be flush with the surface of the door (as in Fig; 2) and this being the only exterior handle on the door, it would not be possible to open the door from the outside. A key, however, may be inserted in the tumbler lock (the key entrance only being-shown in Fig. 1) and by turning the key clockwise, the outer end of the lock member 24 forces the links H and I9 against the tension of the springs22 and 28 from their position shown in Fig. 6 to a position past the center line X-X, at which time the spring 28 by its upward thrust on the box 5 forces them outward to the position shown in Fig. 4. At the same time, of course, thecrank-3 slides upward raising the door handle 26 out of the recess 2! into operation position. Thus the handle 26 is free to turn and open the door. It will be noted that the outward movement of the links I! and I9 and the upward movement of the crank .3 isllimited .by .a lug .29.

carried by the plate I4. The purpose of its corresponding lug 30 will be hereinafter explained, as will the action of the handle 26 on the door olt.

Having explained the construction of the outer plate locking mechanism I will now explain the inner door plate mechanism and its relation to the inside door handle. Please bear in mind that the outer door plate mechanism and the outside handle may be located at any desired position on the door.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the inner mechanism includes a latch plate 3I having through perforations 32 to facilitate its attachmentto the inner edge of a door. Its flanged end 33 has a suitable aperture to allow the end of a door bolt 34 to slide therethrough and to be guided by the sides thereof and by a lug 35 integral with the flanged end 33. The sliding movement of the bolt 34 is also guided by inwardly projecting spacer lugs 36, 31 and 38 integral with the plate 3|. The ends of these lugs fit in suitably located slots in an inner housing plate 39 (Fig. 8), and their longitudinally extending shoulders serve not only as bolt guides but also to space the two plates 3I and 39 apart. The plates are held in this spaced relation by screws. 49.

The bolt 34' has a downwardly projecting end M which contacts the lug 31 to limit the outward movement of the bolt. One end of a spring 42 bears against the inner end M of the bolt, normally holding it at its limit of outward movement. A geared bolt bar 43 has its lower edge slidably supported and. guided by the lugs 31 and 38. Its upper edge supports and guides the lower edge of the bolt 34. This relation is maintained and sideplay is prevented by the proper spacing of the plates 3| and 39, and by the proper spacing of lugs 36, 3'! and38. It will be seen that one end of the bar 143 is adjacent the end M of the bolt 34 and that forced movement of the bolt bar 43 would cause the bolt 34 to move against the spring 42 releasing the opposite end of the bolt from its corresponding seat, thus allowing the door to be opened freely.

Movement of the bolt is accomplished by a toothed gear 44 rotatably mounted between the lugs 31 and. 38 and journaled between the plates 3| and 39. One irregular shaped end of a door handle pin 45 fits a similar shaped central perforation in the gear 44 and is rigidly secured to the gear. The pin 45 extends through the plate 3| and carries the inner door handle 46 on its opposite end. The teeth on the bar 43 do not mesh with the teeth of the gear 44 when the gear is in its normal position as shown in Fig. 9. The gear 44 is normally held in this position by a ball 41 seating in a V-shaped recess in the edge of the gear 44 opposite the teeth on the gear. This ball 41 is held in alignment with the lower edge of the gear by guides 48 and 49 formed in the lower edges of the plates 3I and 39 respectively, and is held in contact with the edge of the gear by a spring 50, one end of which bears directly on the ball 41. Turning the inside door handle in either direction unseats the ball from the V-shaped notch in the gear 44 against the tensionjof the spring 50. When the rotation stops and the handle again approaches its normal position the ball 41 and the spring 59 cause the handle to stop at its normal position and the gear 44 likewise. When the gear 44 is rotated clockwise (considering Fig. 9 only) the teeth on the gear contact the bar 43 and move it toward the outer edge of the door. The bolt 34, being limited against movement in this direction, remains stationary, the bar 43 simply sliding along the lower edge of the bolt. When the gear 44 is rotated in the opposite direction, its teeth contact the bar 43 and move it against the end 4| of the bolt thus moving the bolt, and unlatching the door. I

Having explained both the relation of the inner door handle to the inner plate mechanism and the relation of the outer door handle to the outer door mechanism, I will now explain the relation of the inner door handle to the outer door mechanism, and the relation of the outer door handle to the inner door mechanism.

It will be remembered that the glass in an ordinary door comes between these two mechanisms and that the power must be transferred around the edge of the glass. To do this I prefer to use a substantially U-shaped hollow tube 5| housing a plurality of ball bearings 52 (Fig. 10). The straight sides of the tube act as sleeves for cylindrical rods 53 and 54 which may slide longitudinally therein. Longitudinal inward pressure applied on one of the rods is transmitted from its inner end to each of the ball bearings in turn, and reaches the inner end of the other rod, moving it in an outward direction. There is practically no power lost in transmitting the power from one rod to the other.

The outer end of the rod 54 is fitted with a suitable connection 55 (Figs. 8 and 10), a perforation in which receives an inwardly projecting cylindrical arm 56 carried by one end of the bar 43. The outer end of the other rod 53 bears directly against the flanged end of the plate l4 (clearly shown in Fig. 7). One end of the U- shaped tube 5| is threaded and is rigidly secured to the bracket M5 on the inside surface of the outer door plate I, by nuts 51 and 58 as shown in Figs. 4, 6 and '7. The opposite end of the tube is secured in a similar manner to an inwardly extending lug 59 (Figs. 8 and 10) integral with the plate 39. The arm 56 passes through a longitudinal slot 60 in the plate 39 and is free to slide backward and forward in the slot as the bar 43 moves. The curved portion of the tube 5! may be rigidly secured in any desired manner to the door frame. Also the straight sides of the tube may be varied in length so that the inner and outer door mechanisms may be placed at varying distances from the edge of the door. The curved portion of the tube 5| may also be varied in shape in order to avoid any obstacles.

As previously mentioned the bolt 34 is held in its normal locking position by the spring 42, and the end 4! of the bolt bearing against the end of bar 43 also holds the bar in its normal posi tion (Fig. 9)., The arm 56 carried by the bar pushes the rod 54 into its normal position and the inward travel of the rod 54 is limited by the other rod 53 bearing against the end of plate 54 (Fig. 7). There is practically no play between the inner ends of the two rods and the bearings 52. A spring 6| (Fig. 6) mounted on the inner surface of plate I bears against the flanged end of plate 14 which in turn bears against the end of rod 53 and eliminates play between the ends of the two rods.

In operation when the bar 43 moves" away from the door edge by manual counterclockwise rotation of the inner handle 45 and gear 44, as previously explained, the rod 54 follows the bar 43 because of the pressure of spring 6| on the end of the other rod 53. In case the .door has previously been locked from the outside and the handle is flush with the door sill, as in Fig. 2, at the time of this rotation the link i! is contacted by the lug 30 carried by the plates l4 and is moved from its locked position in Fig. 6 past the center line X-X, at which point springs 28 and BI move it to the position shown in Fig. 4. This movement allows the outside handle 26 to emerge from its recess into operative position, as in Fig. 1.

If the handle 26 is now rotated into the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 the portion 9 of the crank 3 contacts the adjacent edge of the trigger I 2 forcing it to slide in its slot, and at the same time forcing plate I4 to slide and move the end of rod 53 inward. Rod 54 is thereby moved outward forcing bar 43 to move the bolt 34 inward against the tension of spring 42, thus unlatching the door. When the handle is released by the operator, spring 42 returns bolt 34, bar 43, and rods 54 and 53 to their normal positions. Spring It] returns the outer handle 26 to its normal position.

It will also be seen that when the inside handle 46 rotates the gear 44 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9), the bolt 43 slides toward the outer edge of the door, moves rod 54 with it, which in turn causes rod 53 to move plate l4, and as plate l4 moves, its integral lug 29 contacts'the link H, as in Fig. 4, and pushes the links H and is toward their position in Fig. 6, at the same time moving box 5 and crank 3 downward, which in turn causes the outer door handle 25 toseat in the recess 21, locking the door because of the inaccessibility of the handle.

It is obvious that the entire mechanism as shown in the drawings may be built reversed for application to doors which open in the opposite direction.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in forms other than that which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described herein, and applicable for .uses and purposes other than as detailed, and I therefore consider as my own all such modifications and adaptations and other uses of the form of the device herein described as fairly fall within the scope of my invention. a

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a motor vehicle door provided with a window opening and a wind-ow panevertically slidablein the door and the opening; a door bolt secured within the door on the inside of the glass, and operable by an inside door handle; an

outside door handle adapted to recede into a pocket in the outer window ledge of the door; a handle retaining mechanism secured within the door on the outside of the pane, and operable by the outside receding door handle and by the inside door handle; and mechanical means passing around the edge of the glass for operably connecting the inside door handle and the outside handle locking mechanism whereby the inside door handle may initiate movement of said outer door handle toward or away from its seated position. and the outside door handle may operate to unlatch said door bolt.

2. In a device of the class described: an inside door handle; an outside door handle; a handle shaft for each handle; a slidable door bolt; a pinion on the inside handle shaft; and a toothed bar adapted to be moved in either direction by the rotation of said pinion, andadapted to move said door bolt when the bar moves in one direction, and to initiate movement of said outer door handle into an inaccessible position between the door walls when said bar moves in the opposite direction.

3. In a door locking device; an outside door handle adapted to recede into a recess in the outer window ledge of a door; co-operating mechanical means adapted to retain said handle in its receded position flush with the exterior of the ledge; cooperating key controlled means for releasing said retaining means and for initiating the return movement of said handle to its normal operative position; a door bolt; an inside door handle; operative connections between said firstmentioned door handle and said door bolt; and operative connections between said first mentioned handle and said handle retaining mecha- 1115111.

4. In an automotive vehicle door, including inner and outer side walls and a glass panel slidably mounted therebetween; a door bolt operable by an inner door handle; a receding outer door handle adapted to recede into an inaccessible position between the door walls; mechanism including a ball filled tube passing around the edge of the panel operably connecting the outer door handle with the door bolt; and mechanism adjacent the outer wall for locking the outer door handle in its receded position; said first mentioned mechanism also operably connecting the outer and inner door handles around the edge of said glass, whereby movement is transmitted from said inner door handle to said outer handle locking mechanism.

5. In a motor vehicle door provided with a window opening and a window pane vertically slidable in the 'door and the opening; a slidable door bolt secured within the door on one'side of the glass and operable by an inside door handle; an outside door handle adapted torecede into an inaccessible seat between the walls of the door and operably connected to said door bolt; a handle retaining mechanism within the door on the other side of the glass adapted to retain said outer door handle in a receded position; operable connections between said inner door handle, said handle retaining mechanism, and said outer door handle whereby said inner door handle initiates movement of said outer door handle into or out of its receded position; spring means for causing said handle to move into a receded position after the initial movement in that direction; and spring means for completing the movement of said outer door handle from its receded position into an accessible position after such movement has been initiated.

' 6. In a door having a vertically slidable panel therein, a door bolt at one side of the path of a panel operable by a handle on the same side of the path of the panel; an operating handle on the opposite side of the path of the panel adapted to recede into an inaccessible position between the walls of said door; mechanism for retaining said door handle in its receded position; an enclosed ball bearing raceway adapted to transmit positive movement from said first mentioned door handle to said receding door handle, and from said receding door handle to said door bolt, whereby movement of the receding door handle into or out of its receded position is initiated by movement of said inner door handle; and spring means for completing the movement of said outer door handle after said movement in either direction has been initiated.

'7.'In an automobile door having a vertically slidable panel therein, a door belt at one side of the path of the panel, and a bolt operating door handle on the same side of the path of the panel; a bolt operating door handle on the opposite side of the path of the panel adapted to recede into an inaccessible position between the outer and inner walls of said door; a pinion mounted adjacent and adapted to rotate with one of said handles; a toothed bar adapted to be slidably moved in either direction by the rotation of said pinion; a tubular ball bearing raceway having one of its ends operably connected to said toothed bar and having its other end extending around an edge of the panel; and mechanism within the door adjacent the receding handle for forcing said handle into its receded position and for retaining it in that position, and operably connected to the other end of said tubular ball bearing raceway; said toothed bar, when moved in one direction by said pinion, adapted to retract said door bolt, and when moved in the opposite direction adapted to transmit movement through said ball hearing raceway to said receding door handle.

8. In a door having a vertically slidable glass panel therein, and a door bolt located on the inside of said panel and operable by an inside handle; an outer door handle adapted to recede into a recess in the door on the outside of said panel; a link mechanism operable by said outer door handle and by said inner door handle, and adapted to retain said outer door handle in a receded position; and mechanical means operably connected at one end to said link mechanism and passing from said link mechanism around an edge of said panel to said inner door handle and having its other end operably connected to said inner door handle and said door bolt.

9. In a motor vehicle door provided with a window opening and a window pane slidable ver tically in the door and the opening, with a slidable door bolt on the inside of the pane operable by an inner door handle; an outer door handle adapted to recede into a pocket between the walls of the door; link mechanism operably connected to the inner and outer door handles, and adapted to retain the outer door handle in a receded position; and operative connections between the outer handle and the door bolt and between the inner door handle and the link mechanism.

10. In a door provided with a window opening, with a window pane vertically slidable in the door and opening, and with a slidable door bolt on the inside of the pane operable by an inner door handle; mechanism including a pinion engaged slidable toothed bar constituting an operable connection between the bolt and the inner door handle; an outer door handle adapted to recede into an inaccessible position in a pocket between the walls of the door; mechanical means outside the path of the panel responsive to move-' ment of the inner handle for initiating movement of the outer handle into or out of its receded position, said mechanical means including parts which are responsive to movement of the outer handle for retaining said outer door handle in a receded position; and mechanism including a ball filled tubular element connected to the toothed bar and to the retaining mechanism and passing around the path of the panel for transmitting movement from said inner handle to said retaining mechanism.

11. In a device of the class described, an inside door handle; an outside door handle adapted to recede into a pocket. between the door walls; a

shaft for each handle; a slidable door bolt; a pinion on the inside handle shaft; a toothed bar operably engaged by the pinion and adapted to operably engage the door bolt while moving in one direction; mechanism including a ball filled tube constituting an operable connection between said toothed bar and said outer handle; and mechanism adjacent the outer handle adapted to retain said handle in its receded position, said mechanism including a pair of link members pivotally connected to each other at one end, the opposite end of one link being pivoted to a stationary plate, and the opposite end of the other link pivotally connected to the outside handle shaft.

12. In a door having a panel slidable vertically therein, a door bolt on one side of the path of the panel; a receding door handle on the opposite side of the path of the panel adapted to be secured in an inaccessible position in a pocket between the door walls; and an operative connection, comprising a ball filled tube, passing from the door handle around the panel to said door bolt, and operably connected to each, whereby a rotary 25 motion of said door handle'is converted into a push movement and transmitted through said balls to said door bolt. I

13. In a door having a slidable door bolt operable by an inside door handle, and a panel slidable vertically in said door, an outside handle adapted to recede into a pocket between the walls of the door; means for initiating movement of said handle into its receded position and for retaining said handlein its receded position; spring means for completing the movement of said handle into its receded position after said initial movement; and operative connections: between said inner door handle and said retaining mechanism comprising a toothed bar slidable by the rotation of a pinion attached to said inner door handle, and a ball filled tube passing from said toothed bar around the path of the panel to said retaining mechanism; said ball filled tube also adapted to transmit movement from said outer door handle to said toothed bar; and said toothed bar adapted to move said door bolt when said bar moves in one direction, and to move said retaining mechanism when said bar moves in the other direction. 7

ARTHUR F. PRUNER. 

